While it’s debatable whether those moves immediately improve the Cavs, who have been disappointing this season, it’s increasingly looking like they’re gearing up for a run for LeBron James this summer.
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James’ contract with the Los Angeles Lakers expires at the end of this season and there is speculation that both sides are ready to move on. According to sources, Harden and Donovan Mitchell will look to bring James back to Cleveland this offseason.
Via Cavaliers Nation:
“All-Star guards Donovan Mitchell and James Harden are expected to recruit LeBron James to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the offseason, sources told Cavaliers Nation,” Ashish Mathur wrote.“James becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason for the first time since 2018. If the future Hall of Famer does not retire from the NBA, the Cavaliers are expected to heavily pursue James in free agency, sources said.”
James, of course, played for the Cavs for his first seven seasons in the NBA, then returned there for four more years in 2014. During his second stint with the Cavs, the Akron, Ohio native delivered them their first NBA championship and the first world championship in any major sport for the city of Cleveland since 1964.
The moves Cleveland made in recent days helped it cut its payroll, which could be seen as a pretext to sign James this summer. Harden has a $42.3 million player option next season, while Ellis is in the final year of his current contract.
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This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Donovan Mitchell and James Harden will try to bring LeBron to the Cavaliers